Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer Wavelength Attenuation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recent optical add-drop multiplexers face challenges in maintaining even optical signal intensities due to the use of various types of multiplexers, leading to uneven signal strengths and poor optical signal-to-noise ratios, as signals passing through multiplexers with different loss levels are attenuated to achieve uniformity, resulting in excessive signal degradation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a control system that uses a correspondence table to set specific output level target values for each signal wavelength based on its optical circuit type, ensuring that signals are attenuated only to the necessary extent to match the intensity change rates of the multiplexing units, thereby maintaining optimal signal strength and noise ratio across different optical paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If uniform attenuation is applied to all signals to achieve even optical signal intensities, then signal uniformity is improved, but optical signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates due to excessive signal degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different attenuation levels to different wavelength channels based on their specific loss characteristics. The control unit determines individual attenuation amounts for each wavelength channel using loss information, rather than applying uniform attenuation to all signals. This localized adjustment maintains signal uniformity while preserving optical signal-to-noise ratio by avoiding excessive attenuation of channels with lower loss.
2Adaptability or versatility
If various types of multiplexers are used in optical add-drop multiplexers, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to uneven signal strengths from different loss levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit receives loss information from each multiplexer type and adjusts attenuation settings accordingly. The control unit determines appropriate attenuation amounts for each wavelength channel based on the specific loss characteristics of the multiplexers they pass through, enabling the system to accommodate various multiplexer types while maintaining signal uniformity through dynamic adjustment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If signals are attenuated to achieve uniform intensity across different multiplexer loss levels, then signal uniformity is improved, but loss of energy increases due to excessive attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the attenuation parameter dynamically based on the specific loss characteristics of each wavelength channel. Instead of applying a fixed attenuation level, the control unit adjusts the attenuation amount for each channel according to its loss information, thereby achieving signal uniformity while minimizing energy loss by applying only the necessary attenuation to each channel.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus that adds and drops wavelength division multiplexed signal, the apparatus includes a memory and processor. The memory configured to store a first correspondence table indicating relationship with between an optical circuit type information and a first output level target value for a dropping circuit. The processor configured to determine an output level target value for the dropping circuit for each signal wavelength, based on the first correspondence table and optical circuit type information of each signal wavelength.